P-Bass identification help.

[EKULP01]

Not sure if this is the right forum, but I'm hoping fellow basschatters, Fender fans can help identify this nice Precision Andy Cichon (Billy Joel) is playing in the link provided:


[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonobaltimore/487602664/sizes/l/in/photostream/"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonobaltimore...in/photostream/[/url]


I know its not the most detailed picture, I think its a modification or some reissue fender, but I'd like to know the following:


[list]
[*]Body: the type of wood, finish and a year?
[*]Neck: Rough year by logo, finish
[*]Pickguard type, colour
[/list]


thanks!

[Cat Burrito]

Could be a bitsa? The bridge is a badass and the logo / pickguard suggest a 57RI that has been stripped back to natural wood.

[EKULP01]

Interesting..so would you say its definitely a 57 reissue judging by the neck? jap/american?? and that wood be Alder or Ash?

another shot:

[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/judd/3115919564/sizes/l/in/photostream/"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/judd/31159195...in/photostream/[/url]


thanks.

Edited November 16, 2010 by EKULP01

[EKULP01]

any other suggestions?

[Cat Burrito]

The pic attached shows a 57RI. Impossible to tell if it's CIJ / MIJ or USA. The headstock is just a Fender logo with Precision bass underneath so you'd never tell from the pics you're attaching.

I wouldn't have a clue on the body wood but Ash or Alder certainly. Having made a few basses from parts if I wanted to replicate this I'd simply buy the MIM 57 RI with the gold pickguard and strip the paint with nitro mors. Stick a badass bridge on it and you are done. Quite simple to do.

[EKULP01]

Thanks, I'm sure your right.

[Beedster]

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='1026098' date='Nov 16 2010, 05:32 PM']Could be a bitsa?[/quote]

Yep, could be anything really. I was at a really good luthier's place a few weeks back, and was amazed to learn that people order really expensive Fender-alikes, even down to the headstock decal....

C

[hillbilly deluxe]

Guilty as charged,except for the Expensive bit.

[dr1]

looks like ash body (long wide stripes) and badass bridge. logo is early Fender logo so it may be aither orig 50s Fender or 57 re.

[Kiwi]

On behalf of the man himself:


[i]Andy Cichon here. Bass Player with Billy Joel and Old Fender enthusiast.
Wanted to answer a forum question. Could you post on my behalf.
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/lofiversion/index.php/t111167.html"]http://basschat.co.uk/lofiversion/index.php/t111167.html[/url]

It's all about the neck. MAPLE CAP. Super rare.

The ultimate P bass neck, 66 maple cap, C width. I own 4. CAR 70, 68 Sunburst over Oly white and another 70 neck on 69 alder.
The bass pictured is a 58 SB originally that was returned to fender for the new neck in 66. Later stripped and routed for an original single coil P PU in front of the Split P. It was a combination of 58 and 66 parts and electronics when I purchased.

As it is pictured, it is the 58 Swamp ash body, 66 maple cap neck with original lollypop tuners and transition decal. Badass 2 Bridge( Must have mod). 2 % underwound Lindy Fralin Pickups( In all my P's). A truly awesome bass. I have now changed the body to a 71 Black Alder, my preferred body wood. My fave fender.
Cheers
Andy Cichon
(Billy Joel, Shania Twain)[/i]

[merello]

Great find CrazyKiwi!

[Musky]

[quote name='merello' post='1047998' date='Dec 5 2010, 09:26 AM']Great find CrazyKiwi![/quote]
Not sure that was a 'find' really. He seems to have emailed Kiwi with the above information.

Nice of him to have taken the time.

[EKULP01]

wow thanks!

[Kiwi]

[quote name='Musky' post='1048009' date='Dec 5 2010, 09:37 AM']Not sure that was a 'find' really. He seems to have emailed Kiwi with the above information.

Nice of him to have taken the time. [/quote]
Yeah it was nice, he just emailed the admin account asking for the response to be posted.